Oral fixation in adults

[mumroom6571]

Not sure if this is the right thread. I've googled and googled and can't find simple answers anywhere.

From as young as I can remember I have always been obsessed with chewing. When I was little it was my nails and hair, as I've got older it's everything from nails, food, smoking / vaping, tensing my jaw etc. I constantly have to be doing something with my mouth and it's really starting to bother me why can't I stop and what can I do to help? I even grind my teeth in my sleep, my mouth never gets a break! I've tried gum (I end up eating it and only seems to make the problem worse), meditation, therapy. Nothing seems to help 🙁 the result is that I can't stop vaping and I'm overweight, I desperately want to lose some weight.

Google just talks about young children, or suggests gum and chew objects for adults. Anyone else been in the same boat?

Thank you 🙏

Random but have you considered a tongue piercing?
Or perhaps put that as part of your research?
Lots of people who have them that I talk to (I used to have mine done) is related to what you have said.

I used to have a tongue piercing, wasn't keen. Doesn't satisfy the urge to chew (hard!)

Thank you for the suggestion ❤️

Hi, not sure if this is helpful but I clench my jaw all the time (I also vape and am finding it very difficult to stop!).

I recently went to the dentist who without me even mentioning it asked me if I grind my teeth. She said she felt a lot of tension and could also see the effects on my teeth. She told me I need a mouth guard fitted and so they took a mould and I had one made.

It has made a big difference and just provides a lot of relief to my jaw. I was also getting really bad headaches which she said could be connected and its helped those too.

I don't really know if this is a cure for the clenching itself, but it protects teeth and provides some relief. I would definitely see your dentist and see if this is an option? She mentioned the clenching can also be stress related so this could be something to consider too and maybe your GP can help?

Ah sorry when you mentioned vaping then I wondered if it was slightly different. Hope you find something that works for you and as you can see you aren't alone ❤️